DIY Thankful Turkey for Kids + Free Printable Templates

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and help our kids focus on gratitude. One of our favorite family traditions is our DIY Thankful Turkey for Kids, a fun and meaningful craft that grows with us every year!

Instead of making a new turkey each time, we created and laminated the turkey body, head, and feet so we can reuse them. Each November, we simply make new colorful feathers and write what our children are thankful for that year. By the end of the month, our turkey is full of sweet reminders of how blessed we are.

What Is a Thankful Turkey?

A Thankful Turkey is a playful, creative way to teach kids about gratitude. Each feather represents something your child is thankful for. As the turkey fills up, you get a beautiful, visual reminder of thankfulness, and it’s so fun to see how their answers change from year to year!

This project makes a great classroom Thanksgiving craft, a home activity, or even a family gratitude display for your fridge or wall.

Free Printable Turkey & Feather Templates

To make this easy and reusable, I’ve created a free printable turkey body template and a matching feather template that you can download and use with your kids or students.

👉 [Download the Free Printable Thankful Turkey Templates Here!]

You can print the body, head, and feet on cardstock and laminate them so they last year after year. Then simply print or trace the feathers on colorful paper for a new set each Thanksgiving!

Supplies You’ll Need

- Free printable turkey body and feather templates

- Construction paper in fall colors (red, orange, yellow, brown)

- Scissors

- Glue, tape, or sticky tack

- Markers or crayons

- Laminator (optional but recommended)

How to Make a DIY Thankful Turkey

1. Print and prepare your turkey.
Download and print the free turkey body and feather templates. Cut out the body, head, and feet, then laminate them for durability.

2. Make your feathers.
Use the feather template to cut out several feathers from colorful construction paper. We like to mix oranges, reds, yellows, and browns for a classic fall look.

3. Write what you’re thankful for.
Ask your kids what they’re thankful for this year and write one thing on each feather. You can add one feather a day leading up to Thanksgiving or make them all at once.

4. Assemble your turkey.
Attach the feathers around the turkey body using glue, tape, or sticky tack. Display it on a wall, door, or bulletin board where everyone can see it.

5. Repeat every year!
Each Thanksgiving, simply print new feathers and start again. Over time, you’ll have a wonderful collection of thankful memories to look back on.

Why We Love This Thankful Turkey Craft

This simple project has become one of our favorite family Thanksgiving traditions. It’s a fun, hands-on way to encourage gratitude and reflection while letting your kids be creative.

I love seeing how my children’s answers have changed over the years, from “cookies” and “my toys” to “my teacher,” “family dinners,” and “Jesus.” It’s such a sweet way to capture what matters most to them in each season of life.

Variations to Try

- Classroom Version: Have each student add one feather to create a class Thankful Turkey.

- Table Centerpiece: Tape your turkey to a small board or poster and use it as a Thanksgiving table decoration.

- Family Countdown: Add one new feather each day in November to make it a gratitude countdown to Thanksgiving!

Final Thoughts

Our DIY Thankful Turkey for Kids is more than just a craft, it’s a tradition of gratitude, creativity, and reflection. Each year, as our turkey fills up with new feathers, I’m reminded that the most meaningful moments are often the simplest ones shared together.

Don’t forget to download your free printable turkey body and feather templates so your family or classroom can start this wonderful tradition, too!

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Written by Diana Chastain from Nanny to Mommy

Nanny to Mommy